Author name: Shelley

Words at Work

Metaphor, Simile or Analogy

Metaphor vs Simile Same idea, slightly different grammar, and just enough to confuse everyone learning English! Welcome Analogy If metaphors and similes are quick comparisons… an analogy takes the idea and runs with it, adding extra detail to help you understand it more clearly (or making it sound more dramatic than necessary). Metaphor A metaphor […]

Words at Work

What are Idioms?

Idioms are proof that English speakers have collectively agreed to make life harder for everyone else. They’re phrases where the words don’t mean what they say. If someone tells you to “break a leg,” they’re not threatening you—they’re wishing you good luck. (Confusing? Absolutely!) Idioms are often unique to a language, which means translating them

Words at Work

Business Jargon

Business jargon is the unofficial language of the workplace—phrases professionals use to communicate ideas, give instructions, and describe everyday tasks. In many cases, these terms could be replaced with simpler, clearer language, but they’ve become so common that they often feel like a second language. While business jargon can facilitate, it is often seen as

Crimes against English

Crimes against English: Fewer and Less

How many of us are honest enough to say that we have made grammatical errors either in speech or written text?  I know I have, but I don’t like to admit it.  Although it is easier to get away with making such errors when speaking, unfortunately that is not the case when it comes to

Crimes against English

Crimes against English: Contractions

When I mention contractions, I am not referring to ladies in childbirth nor my hubby whose muscles contract at the mere thought of pulling out his wallet at the mention of a new designer handbag.  I am talking, of course, about two words that are combined and certain letters omitted.  We put an apostrophe where

Commonly confused words

Commonly confused words: Any one or Anyone

Any one Any one is a term that means any single object or person. Any one of those fools could be the next in charge. (Both any and one are referring to ‘fools’.) Any one of these films would keep you entertained. (Both any and one are referring to ‘films’.) The teacher never raised her

Commonly confused words

Commonly confused words: Every one or Everyone

Every one Every one can be substituted for ‘each one’ or ‘every single one’ and is referring to individuals in a group. It can be used to refer to people, animals or objects. Every one of them went to the bar. (Every single one of them) Every one of those girls got drunk. (One refers

Crimes against English

Crimes against English: Should of vs. Should have

Lots of things annoy me about written English and this heinous crime is probably the most irritating of them all. In fact, it bothers me so much that I feel compelled to hit things whenever I see it. It’s just an accent! In some regional accents, I totally understand that ‘should’ve’ may sound very much

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